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LunarPhase Pro’s Front Screen |
Version 3.30 of the LunarPhase Pro Moon Observer’s Toolkit and Interactive Moon Atlas software was released recently.
The software’s ever-expanding feature set includes these facilities:
- Watch Jack Horkheimer’s weekly “Stargazer” programme direct from the “Reports” menu. You can also enter a date to see any programme from the last 12 months.
- Moon & Astronomy Videos: New screen that allows you to watch over 300 online videos about the Moon and other astronomy-related topics (including the BBC’s Sky at Night, Jack Horkheimer’s weekly “StarGazer” show, Carl Sagan’s Cosmos and hundreds of other videos). See the screen with a sample video here.
- Lunar Explorer Screen: New higher 1280×994 screen resolution option added.
- Lunar Explorer Screen: New Top-Down facility added. Lets you see features on the Moon from directly overhead. Can be called from the main toolbar or from the popup menu when you click on a feature name in one of the feature lists.
- Lunar Explorer Screen: New Moon Rotation option added. Rotate the Moon to get the views we can’t here on Earth.
- Lunar Explorer Screen: The Grid Overlay colour for 3D views can now be changed.
- Lunar Explorer Screen: The feature identify ring has been revamped.
- Lunar Explorer Screen: When changing to a view of the opposite side of the Moon, the Near or Far side now rotates into view.
- Lunar Explorer Screen: Search for feature name in a feature list by keying in part of that feature’s name.
- Lunar Explorer Screen: New chart icons beside feature names in feature lists indicate that that feature has at least one Moon Chart associated with it.
- Lunar Explorer Screen: In the pane that displays feature information when a feature has been identified, the camera, notes and chart icons (when available) can be clicked as a shortcut to open the associated screens.
- Moon Charts Screen: New sceen that displays detailed charts of particular lunar features download from the internet. The charts can then be saved locally to your PC so that time and bandwidth is not wasted repeatedly downloding the charts. The screen allows you to pan over the charts, zoom into them and print them out. The screen is called from the Reports menu on LunarPhase Pro’s main screen or the Lunar Explorer screen or can be invoked through the popup menu that appears when a feature name in a feature list is right-clicked.
- Moon In The News Screen: This screen has been completely revamped. It now presents news in three categories from two news sources. Categories are: Moon in the News, Astronomy & Space News and General Science News. The sources are Webnews (i.e. news stories drawn for a variety of news sources on the internet) and Podcasts (audio/video files that include news, reports, interviews, etc.) Some of the Podcasts are actually Vodcasts (play video rather than just audio). Podcasts are categorized in the same way as web news. [Some interesting news stories currently available]
- Online Moon Books: New screen that lists a number of books about the Moon, Moon Landings, etc. that are available on the internet. Click on a book to open it in your browser.
- Lunar Features Database: Data on this screen can now be sorted (in ascending or descending order) by clicking on the column titles on the screen.
- Feature Search Screen: Rows are now sorted by name to make things easier to find. A row clicked on the screen now becomes highlighted in navy so you don’t lose track of where you were.
- Main Screen: LST Clock previously only showed LST for the current time (based on you PC’s clock). Now updates to show LST for selected time/date. This includes changes in Daylight Savings Time.
- Configuration Screen: New option added to allow selection of Overlay Grid colour (on Lunar Explorer screen).
- Configuration Screen: New option added to allow selection of the default screen resolution when the Lunar Explorer screen opens.
LunarPhase Pro is $44.95 for the Digital Download and $54.95 for the CD.
Existing LunarPhase Pro users who bought V2.51 (or later) [rather than upgrading from a previous version] of LunarPhase Pro, are entitled to a free upgrade to V3.00. If you have not already received download instructions, please contact the author.
Otherwise, the upgrade fees are as follows:
| Upgrade from Version 2 to Version 3: | |
| Digital Download: | $17.95 |
| CD: | $21.49 |
| Upgrade from Version 1 to Version 3: | |
| Digital Download: | $30.90 |
| CD: | $37.90 |
Upgrades can be ordered through PayPal here
For more information about LunarPhase Pro, including screenshots, reviews, testimonials and to download a demo, visit: The LunarPhase Pro Page
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LunarPhase Pro Affiliate Program |
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Filed under: Astronomy Software
The Sky at Night – is a monthly programme on astronomy and produced by the BBC. Its first airing was on 24 April 1957, it is the longest running television programme with the same presenter, Sir Patrick Moore.
The programme’s very haunting and stirring classical piece of music, both at the begining and end of the programme – is a theme music called "At the Castle Gate" and is from the incidental music to "Pelléas et Mélisande" written by Jean Sibelius.
It was performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham, way back in1955
I don’t know if it’s just the music that you like, Matt, or the programme too but I wanted to share with you the fact that, the 650th programme was actually yesterday, 8th January 2007. That means that the programme has been running for 45 years.
I saw most of it but the best part for me was in seeing the great the Sir Patirick – in the old black and white programmes – showing a hugh "home-made" solar system…… in his own back garden!!!!
Another best part was, that whilst actually being filmed on the set, he actually lost his temper. At the time he was trying to look through a huge telescope and i think there was perhaps a bit of a problem with its focsuing. This was amusing as he tried to laugh it off.
And people in urban areas see a different sky to those out in the sticks. I’m on the outskirts of a major city and all I see is an orange blanket in the sky at night because of the ambient light. Where my parents live, I can see stars.
I love looking at the sky at night